Ladle tilting apparatus



Jan. 29, 1946. F E KLlNG LADLE TIL TING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledNov. 2, 1944 INVENTOR. F950 E. KL/NG yQuw i/s 41mg I Jan. 29, 1 946. F.E. KLING LADLE TILT ING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 2, 1944 2 Shets-Sheet 2 I II I I I I I I f I I I I! M m w N 3 Q ,K- B...

H n .W H w w 5 6 W 5- 5 Patented Jan. 29, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENToFFice v Fred E. Kling, Youngstown, Ohio, as'signor to Carnegie-IllinoisSteel Corporation, a corporation. of New Jersey Application November 2,1944, Serial N f.'561,e24

6 Claims. (01. 214-64) This invention relates to a ladle tiltingapparatus, and particularly to an improved automatic hook connectingmechanism therefor. 7

In the casting of hot metal, it is disposed usually in a large ladlewhich is supported on a car or truck for transporting the same to apoint where it'ispoured into the molds of a pig-casting machine or intosmaller transfer ladies. The car or truck is properly positioned withregard to a pouring stand and the ladle is tilted on the truck to effecta pour. This tiltingis usually performed by means of a hookwhich issuspended Referring more particularly to the drawings; there is shown anupwardly and forwardly arcuated mast 2 consisting preferably of a pairof spaced apart structural members 3 which are fromfan overhead liftingdevice. It is to an im mechanism for apparatus of this class which willautomatically engage with and disengage from the ladles to be tilted.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved hookmechanism for ladle tilting apparatus which will be moved automaticallyto r a retracted position out of the way of the operator and workmenwhen not in use so as to eliminate any obstruction or hazard to theworkmen in the vicinity of the pouring operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved automatichook mechanism for ladle tilting apparatus which is simple andinexpensive in its construction, and, at the same time, efficient andeffective in its use.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be moreapparent in the course of the following specification and will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown, for the purpose ofillustration, anembodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a ladle tilting apparatus showingthe improved automatic hook mechanism of my invention incorporatedtherewith;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side view of my improved hook mechanism;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 111-111 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line IV--IV of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line V-V of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line VIVI of Figure 5.

suitably arranged on a base 4 preferably posi tioned below the floorlevel, as shown in Figure 1.

On the inner side of each of the structural mem bers 3, there isarranged an inwardly extending flange portion 5 which is adapted to actas a track. At: the upper end of the mast 2, there is arranged betweenthe structural members 3, a transversely extending shaft 6 on whichthere is mounted a plurality of sheaves 1;, Intermediate the height ofthemast2, on the outer side there-V,

of, there is arranged a'bracket member 8 which carries a shaft 9 andupon which, in' turn, there is mounted a pair ofsheaves Ill. Adjacentthebottom of the mast 2, on the outer side thereof, thereis positionedpreferably another bracket member l2, on which there is mounted aishaftl3" carrying preferably a grooved drum it. The shaft 13 isconnected preferably by means of a coupling l5 to a gear reduction unitIt, and the gear reduction unit, in turn, is connected to preferab y areversible electric motor II. N

According to the present invention thereis arranged within the mast 2between the structural members 3, a trolley! 8 consisting preferably ofa transversely extending shaft l9 having a wheel or roller '20 arrangedon each end thereof which are adapted to cooperate with and ride alongthe flange or track portions 5 of the structural members 3. Between thercllers 20, there is mounted on the shaft IS, a pluralityof rotatablesheaves 2| and a downwardly extending hook 22 having a hook portion 23arranged on the extreme lower end thereof which is adapted to cooperatewith the ladle to be tilted in a manner hereinafter to be described.Within the mast 2 adjacent the bottom thereof and at a point directlyopposite the drum [4, there is arranged a cam member 24 which ispositioned centrally between the structural members 3 with the upper andlower cam surfaces 25 and 26, re-

spectively, of the cam member disposed substantially at right angles'toeachother. The lower end of each of the flanges or tracks 5 preferablyis curved inwardly toward the center of the mast as at 5*- and terminateat a point directly opposite the upper cam surface 25 of the cam member24. I

Intermediate the length of the hook 22, there is integrally arrangedtherewith, a rearwardly extending hollow armportion-21 having archer-2Qrotatably arranged in the outer end thereof which is adapted to act as acam follower and cooperates with the cam surfaces 25 and 26 of the cam24, in

a manner to be described. As more clearly shown in Figures 3, 5, and 6of the drawings, the roller 28 is preferably mounted on a stud shaft 29preferably carried by a U-shaped member 30 movably mounted within thearm-like portion 21' The member 30 is guided in its movement within thearm portion preferabl b meansof horizon tally disposed top and bottomgui'de: portions= 3 I carried by the arm portion, and is prevented frommovement out through the end of the arm purer.

tion preferablyby means of vertically extending side stop portions 32.Within the arm portion" 21, there is arranged also preferably a,compres- ,5,

* the track 5:

sion coil spring 33 with one end; thereof bearing; against the bottom ofthe U-shaped member 30 member 34. There is arranged also within the armportion 21, an adjusting screw 35 which is carrie'cl by a platememberwsuitably attachedto spring 33in a well known manner. It isthepurpose'of the coil springs33to maintain the rolleri 28 init'sout'ermo'st position in-the arm'portio'n- 21' for a purposejwhichwill" hereinafter becomeap parent. I i v I There is arranged around thesheaves 2"I or the trolley I 81, the sheaves 'I'arranged at"theto p''-of= the and at the opposite end of the coil spring 33,. there isarranged a movable" plate-like seating" tion- 23'di'spofsed below thefloor'lev'el. "When the erably a pair of cables or'ropes3'8 formanipu1atlimit switch 4 I withwllich' the hooli 'fi cooperates ford'eenergizing the motor I! when the hook is moved to its lowermostposition, and'therear ranged at theftop ofthe mast 2-"preferably anotherlimit switch 42 with which the hook cooperates to deenergize the motor II whenthe hook has been moved to its uppermost position on themast';

Inoperation, the-motor I 'Fis energized, and the drum" I4 towhichtl"1'e' cabl'es 38 are attached isthenrotated throughtheactionof thegear reduc- Upon further movement of the trolley I8 upwardly along theinclined track 5 to the top of the mast, it will be seen that the ladle44 is tilted about the fulcrum or pivot 41 so that the contents thereofare poured therefrom, as shown in the broken lines of Figure 1 of thedrawings. the trolley l8, together with the hook 22 carried thereby,reaches its uppermost position on the mast,,it1will be seen that thetrolley" strikes the l irnit swi-tchJizL thereby de'ene'rgizingthetmotor I1.

After the pouring of the hot metal from the ladle 44' has beencompleted, the motor I1 is energized so as to travel in a reversedirection and the cables 38 are unwound from the drum I4 therebypermitting the: trolley I8 to pass downwardly along As; the trolley I8approaches the curvezrl portion of. the track, it will be seen that theroller 28 carried by the arm portion 21 of the hook 22 will againcontact the upper cam surface 25-01.- the: cam member 24. As the trolleyI8 continues to move downwardly, it will be seen that it move'sinwardl'yof themast over thecurvedlower ends 5 ofth'e'track 5 a'ndthat' the"roller 28 passes from the camsurface-25 and down over'thei lower camsurface 26 thereby disengaging the hook portion- 23 from thepin 43 ofthe ladle 44' and returning the ladle, to its" normal position on" thetruck45i- When the-hook Zirca'ches'its lowermost position, as shown; inthe full lines ofl i'gure 1 01 the drawings, it will be seen thattheho'ok is'dis-' posed'wholly within the mast'Z with the hook porho'okZZ reachesthis lowermost position, it will beseen-tha't the roller 28strikes the'limit'switeh' 41 thereby d'eenergizingthem-otor I'Ii UItwill be understoodthat thepin Marthe ladle with which the book '22cooperates to tilt-Eth'e same is not always dis-posed in the sameposition on varibusla'd'l'es. 'I'h'i's 'co'nditioni's' primarilyd'ue tothe fact that the ladle is not alway's'placed in the same position onthe caror truck; {To correct this condition so as to insure that the"hook portion 23 of th'e l'iookwill always properly engage the pin 43 ofthe particular ladle tobe tilte'd positioned oppositethe mast 2". theroller 28' intheendof the arm DOItl'OH'ZT Of 111611091? is mountedjyieldably' therein" due to ,thefactiori of" the coil spring 33; The"roller 28* is" always" maintained in its outermost position in the endor the" arm portion 2]" due to the compressive tion unit I 6 and thecoupling I 5. Uponrotationof the drum f4, thecables38 will be woundtherearound, and the trolley I8 will be moved' upwardl'y along the track 5due" to the action thereof. As the trolley I 8 is movedupwardly-over'the inward 1y curved lower ends 5?- of the track-5} itwillbe seen that thehook 22 arranged therewithwill'also be movedan'dthatthe'roller'28 -carried'by*the' arm portion 2 1 willmove alongthe lower cam surface has passed along the cam-surface'zli tp the-outersideof the cam, it will b'eseen that the hookipor"- tion" 2i3fwillbeforcedoutwardly andupwar dl'y'intjo" ladle'ifsmo sitioned too far to thri'ghtQag shown in Figures l*-an'd;2'- of the drawings; it willibe seenthat the=c uter side-oi the hook'zz at'a point immediatelyabovetheh'o'ok portion 23 ti1ereof, willist-rike the pin 43 oft'he'l'adle' when the roller 28 passesonto the uppercamsurface '25 of the cammember 24'; thereby forcing the" hook back wardly. It will be seen thatwhen the hook 22 is forced, backwardly, that the roller 2;8 whi'ch is incontact withthe" cam surface1'25'; will be moved inwardly into the arm"portion 21 against the action of the coil spring 33" thereby permitting'the hookportion 23 to'properlyajnd secure ly engage the pin 430fthe'lad1e'. Afterthe-trol ley I8 has moved upwardly a shortdistance'along thetra'ck 5, it will be seen=t1' lat the'r l'ierRFmovesout, of contact with theup'per cam surfafc'el25 and that the-rollerzflagainwill'bemovedto its outermost position in the endofthe arrn portion-21 due to' the action of'the'" coil spring 331 By providing such aconstructiomit willbe seentl'iat the hook 22 isassured of' properlyengaging; the pin 43 of the ladle, even though-thepin sgnotinthe-sameposition-inallcases... v i

When

A a result of my invention, it will be seen that there is provided ahook mechanism for a ladle tilting apparatus which automatically engageswith the pin of the ladle so as to tilt the same when the trolley ismoved upwardlyv along the mast, and automatically disengages from thepin of the ladle when the trolleyis moved downwardly along the mast, andthe ladle is returned to its normal position on the truck. It will alsobe seen that the hook in its normal position, is maintained in aretracted position within the mast with the hook portion thereofdisposed below the floor level so as to eliminate any obstruction infront of the mast between the same and the car or rails.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely for thepurpose of illustration and description and that various other forms maybe devised within the scope of my invention, as defined in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In a ladle tilting apparatus, the combination with an upwardly andforwardly inclined track, a trolley arranged on said track, and meansfor moving said trolley along said track, of a downwardly extending hookcarried by said trolley, a rearwardly extending adjustable cam followeron said hook, and camming means arranged adjacent the lower end of saidtrack for automatically causing said hook to move into engagement withthe ladle to be tilted when said trolley is moved upwardly, and forautomatically disengaging said book from the ladle after said trolleyhas been lowered to return the ladle to its normal position.

2. In a ladle tilting apparatus, the combination with an upwardly andforwardly inclined track, a trolley arranged on said track, and meansfor moving said trolley along said track, of a downwardly extending hookcarried by said trolley, a cam member arranged adjacent the lower end ofsaid track, a rearwardly extending arm portion carried by said hook, anda roller arranged on the outer end of said arm portion which cooperateswith said cam, said cam adapt-- ed to automatically move said hook intoengagement with the ladle to be tilted when said trolley is movedupwardly, and to automatically disengage ,said hook from the ladle aftersaid trolley has been lowered to return the ladle to its normalposition.

3. In a ladle tilting apparatus, the combination with an upwardly andforwardly arcuated mast having an inclined track carried thereby, atrolley arranged on said track, and means for moving said trolley alongsaid track, of a downwardly extending hook carried by said trolley, arearwardly extending cam follower on said hook and a cam member arrangedwithin said mast adjacent the lower end of said track, said cam beinconstructed and arranged so as to cause said hook to move automaticallyoutwardly from said mast into engagement with the ladle to be tiltedwhen said trolley is moved upwardly, and to automatically disengage saidhook from the ladle when said trolley is lowered to return the ladle toits normal position and to till move said hook inwardly to a retractedposition within said mast.

4. In a ladle tilting apparatus, the combination with an upwardly andforwardly arcuated mast having an inclined track carried thereby, atrolley arranged on said track, and means for moving said trolley alongsaid track, of a downwardly extending hook carried by' said trolley, acam member arranged within said mast adjacent the lower end of saidtrack, the lower end of said track being curved inwardly toward thecenter oi said mast and terminating adjacent said cam member, arearwardly extending arm portion carried by said hook, and a rollerarranged on the outer end of said arm portion which cooperates with saidcam, said cam memher being constructed and arranged so as to cause saidhook to move automatically into engagement with the ladle to be tiltedwhen said trolley is moved upwardly and to automatically disengage saidhook from the ladle after said trolley has been lowered to return theladle to its normal position so that said hook is moved inwardly to aretracted position within said mast.

5. In a ladle tilting apparatus, the combination with an upwardly andforwardly inclined track, a trolley arranged on said track, and meansfor moving said trolley along said track, of a downwardly extending hookcarried by said trolley, a cam member arranged adjacent the lower end ofsaid track, a rearwardly extending arm portion carried by said hook, aroller arranged in the outer end of said arm portion which cooperateswith said cam member, said roller mounted for limited movementlongitudinally of said arm portion, and a compression coil springcarried by said arm portion for maintaining said roller normally in itsoutermost position on said arm portion, said cam member adapted toautomatically move said hook into engagement with the ladle to be tiltedwhen said trolley is moved upwardly, and to automatically disengage saidhook from the ladle after said trolley has been lowered to return theladle to its normal position.

6. In a ladle tilting apparatus, the combina tion with an upwardly andforwardly inclined track, a trolley arranged on said track, and meansfor moving said trolley along said track, of a downwardly extending hookcarried by said trolley, a cam member arranged adjacent the lower end ofsaid track, a rearwardly extending arm portion carried by said hook,airoller ar ranged in the outer end of said arm portion which cooperateswith said cam member, said roller mounted for limited movementlongitudinally of said arm portion a compression coil spring carried bysaid arm portion for maintaining said roller normally in its outermostposition on said arm, and means for adjusting the compressive force ofsaid spring, said cam mem-.

ber adapted to automatically move said hook into engagement with theladle to be tilted when said trolley is moved upwardly, and toautomatically disengage said hook from the ladle after said trolley hasbeen lowered to return the ladle to its normal position. FRED E. KLING,

